Hair accessory system and methods

ABSTRACT

The invention provides an improved way to accessorizing a hair band without compromising the seal of the band. A system and method for interchanging accessories to hair bands. An illustrative embodiment is a system for attaching a decorative accessory to a hair band, the system comprising of decorative accessory with a secured peg being configured for insertion and removal through an expandable loop in the hair band allowing the decorative accessory to be interchanged.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is continuation of a U.S. provisional application, application No. 61/640,691 filed on Apr. 30, 2012 entitled, “Hair Accessory System and Method”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hair accessories and, more particularly, to systems and methods for providing accessories to elastic rubber hair bands without compromising the integrity of the hair band.

Elastic rubber hair bands are difficult to accessorize, especially because the ends of the elastic rubber hair bands are joined and sealed to form the circular shape, making it difficult to insert any accessories easily without compromising the seal and using other materials to adhere the accessory securely.

Conventional elastic rubber hair bands have accessories that cannot be removed, as the elastic rubber band is sealed and the accessory cannot be removed unless the factory seal is broken. Once the factory seal of the hair band is broken, however, it can no longer can be used.

Currently, there is not a hair system in place that allows an accessory to be inserted and removed easily to an elastic rubber hair band, allowing for accessories to be easily interchangeable. The conventional elastic rubber hair bands that contain accessories do not have a method of interchanging accessories. The accessories are permanently affixed and cannot be inserted, removed or interchanged from the elastic rubber hair band.

As can be seen, there is a need for accessories on elastic rubber hair bands that can be easily inserted, removed and interchanged.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the purposes of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention can provide an improved way to accessorizing an elastic rubber hair band without compromising the seal of the hair band. A system and method for interchanging decorative accessories to elastic rubber hair bands. This and other embodiments are more fully described in the Detailed Description section. It is to be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the forms described in this Summary or in the Detailed Description. One skilled in the art can recognize that there are numerous modifications, equivalents, and alternative constructions that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.

One embodiment of the present invention may include a system for attaching a decorative accessory to an elastic hair band, the system comprising of decorative accessory with a secured peg being configured for insertion and removal through a central elastic rubber hair band having an outer expandable loop in the hair band allowing the decorative accessory to be interchanged. A method of use is also described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an elastic rubber hair band usable in the removable accessory system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hair band of FIG. 1 having an expandable accessory loop formed therein;

FIG. 3 is a back side perspective view of a removable accessory system, with an exemplary accessory installed there within, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front side perspective view of the removable accessory system of FIG. 3, with the exemplary accessory installed there within;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the removable accessory system of FIG. 3, in use in a wearer's hair;

FIG. 6 is a side view of an accessory usable in the removable accessory system of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a top view of a plurality of removable accessory systems, showing only a sampling of the designs available for the removable accessory.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a hair accessory system where an elastic rubber hair band used for gathering hair may have an expandable accessory loop that may accept and removably retain an accessory there within. The hair accessory system can include any type and style of accessory design. Typically, the accessory will have a peg extending from a back side of the accessory, with a disk on the end of the peg. Typically, the disk will be larger than the expandable accessory loop, securing the accessory to the elastic rubber hair band when the expandable accessory loop is stretched over the disk on the end of the peg of the accessory. The system of the present invention allows an accessory to be inserted, removed and/or interchanged without breaking any factory sealed bands, glue, or the like.

Referring now to the Figures, a circular elastic rubber hair band can be joined and a permanent loop may be formed in a portion of the hair band. In some embodiments, the permanent loop may be formed by fabric thread woven about the band. An accessory with a peg and a disk at the end of the stem, can be inserted securely into the smaller expandable loop to secure the accessory on the hair band.

The smaller expandable loop, made out of elastic rubber material, allows for the accessory to be easily inserted and removed without the use of any other elements to securely fasten the accessory. A variety of accessories can be interchanged to coordinate with one's outfit or event being attended, for example.

To make the system of the present invention, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, once the circular elastic rubber hair band is procured, the fabric thread can be woven and heat sealed to create a permanent loop. One could accomplish this process by having an elastic rubber cord joined to make a circle. That circle can then be joined to create the smaller outer expandable loop. One could accomplish this weaving process given an appropriate sewing apparatus, or could outsource the weaving process to a commercial or specialized enterprise. The resulting elastic rubber hair band has an outer expandable smaller loop that will allow an accessory to be inserted and removed easily into smaller expandable loop. This system will allow accessories to be inserted, removed and interchanged easily without any other elements to secure the accessory.

The elastic rubber hair band can be made out of a variety materials and in a variety of colors. The loop can be joined by a thread or metal fastener, for example. The smaller expandable loop can be created with an overlapping of the elastic rubber hair band in a x formation or a joining, for example. In some embodiments, a smaller separate elastic rubber circle band can be attached to the larger elastic and/or rubber hair band to create the loop. The accessories being used can have a peg with a variety of shapes that will securely fastened into the outer smaller elastic rubber expandable loop.

To use the system of the present invention, the accessory can be inserted into the elastic rubber hair band by holding the accessory with the peg facing up with one's finger tips, in one hand, and the holding the elastic rubber hair band in the other hand. The small expandable loop of the elastic rubber hair band can be placed onto the top of the peg of the accessory. By using their thumb to hold the small loop towards the top of the peg of the charm, the user can stretch the larger loop of the elastic hair band down until the small loop slides into place. The user's thumb can be used to guide the small loop into place until the small loop is fastened securely around the peg of the accessory.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed:
 1. A system for attaching a decorative accessory to an elastic rubber hair band, the hair band system comprising: an expandable elastic rubber hair band having a first, an expandable larger loop and a second, expandable smaller loop; a decorative accessory having a peg with a disk on an end of the peg, wherein the accessory removably attaches to the second, expandable smaller loop to provide a retained, but removable and interchangeable decorative accessory on the elastic rubber hair band. 